Current Courses

Intro to Medieval Studies Medieval Studies 1022

This foundation course will introduce civilization and thought in Europe and the Mediterranean between 400 and 1500, with emphasis on the medieval roots of many modern institutions and attitudes, including philosophy, technology, law, governance, courtly love and attitudes to women, warfare, art and archaeology, Christianity and Islam, literature, music and coinage. Antirequisite(s): Medieval Studies 1025F/G, 1026F/G 3 hours, 1.0 course

Philosophy 2006 The Metaphysics and Epistemology of Witchcraft

Witches: who they were, why they were thought to be witches by themselves and others, what was done to them and why? The course will treat a number of standard philosophical issues (the mind-body problem, causation, free-will, theories of knowledge) through a study of Renaissance and early modern material. 2 hours, 1.0 course.

A survey of the great philosophers from the pre-Socratics to Aquinas; focusing on the systematic unity of their thought, the influence of their ideas and their importance for us today. Themes include: the nature of reality, human existence, truth, God, political agency, and ethics. Antirequisite(s): Philosophy 2200F/G, 2201F/G. 6 lecture hours, 1.0 course.

Religious Studies 2205F/G The Emergence of the Christian Tradition

An exploration of how Christian identity, belief and practice took shape from the beginnings of Christianity to the late Middle Ages. Topics include struggles over Christian doctrine; worship; monasticism; attitudes to the body, sexuality and gender; Christian expression in art and architecture. Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 2218F/G, 2250E. Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s): Pre-or Corequisite(s): Religious Studies 1026F/G and 1028F/G, or Religious Studies 2101A/B and 2102A/B, or Religious Studies 2122F/G and 2124F/G, or Religious Studies 2201F/G and 2202F/G, or the former Religious Studies 021E, or the permission of the instructor. 3 hours, 0.5 course.

Visual Arts: Art History 2252F Early Medieval Art (available with special permission of the instructor, Dr. K. Brush)

Art and architecture of Europe and the Mediterranean from late antiquity to the year 1000. Topics include Judeo-Christian, Byzantine, Islamic, Carolingian, and Ottonian art, with emphasis on cultural interactions. Prerequisite(s): VAH 1040, or Medieval Studies 1020E, or both of Medieval Studies 1025F/G and 1026F/G, or permission of the Department. 3 lecture hours, 1.0 course.

Section II:

Comparative Literature and Culture 2194F: The Literature of Courtly Love

What do we mean by “courtly love”? In the Middle Ages, no one ever used the term “courtly love.” Yet the people of the 12th century revolutionized our notions of what love is and gave us the idea, still with us, that falling in love is a central experience in life. In that century people began to speak and write of fin’amours – of a love (amours) that somehow refined (fin) its participants and of which the first rule was that it could only exist outside of marriage. In this course we will read a number of the most important works of fin’amors, including poetry by the troubadours, the original tale of King Arthur, Lancelot, and Guenevere, and a few “anti-courtly” works that intentionally turn the courtly ethic on its head. Prerequisite(s): CLC 1020, or Medieval Studies 1020E or permission of the Department. 3 hours, 0.5 course.

Comparative Literature and Culture 3333F Dante's Inferno (J. Miller)

A study of Dante's Inferno, along with background topics such as medieval theology, cosmology, poetics, and politics. Antirequisite(s): Prerequisite(s): CLC 1020, or Medieval Studies 1020E, or both of Medieval Studies 1025F/G and 1026F/G, or permission of the Department. 3 hours, 0.5 course.

A study of Dante's Purgatorio, along with background topics such as medieval theology, cosmology, poetics, and politics. Antirequisite(s): Prerequisite(s): CLC 1020, or Medieval Studies 1020E, or both of Medieval Studies 1025F/G and 1026F/G, or permission of the Department. 3 hours, 0.5 course.

English 3012 Old English Language and Literature (M.J. Toswell)

Studying the language and literature of England a millennium ago, we will move from introducing the language to simple prose texts to the poetry of the Exeter and Vercelli Books, and for most of the second term to the study of Beowulf. Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 of English 1020E or 1022E or 1024E or 1035E or 1036E or both English 1027F/G and 1028F/G, or Medieval Studies 1020E, or both of Medieval Studies 1025F/G and 1026F/G, or permission of the Department. 3 hours, 1.0 course.

English 3116E Middle English Literature (A. McTaggart)

This course is an introduction to some of the major texts and themes of Middle English literature, with an emphasis on Chaucer and his contemporaries. Examples of medieval drama, romances, texts from the Arthurian tradition, and medieval autobiography and letter-writing may also be included. Antirequisite(s): English 3118F/G (Huron), English 3119F/G (Huron) and English 3114E. Prerequisite(s): At least 60% in 1.0 of English 1020E or 1022E or 1024E or 1035E or 1036E or both of English 1027F/G and 1028F/G, or permission of the Department. 3 hours, 1.0 course.

French 3540F/G Culture and Literature in Society: The Middle Ages in France (S. Small) (offered at King's University College)

Through the study of the cultural productions from the Middle Ages in France, students will deepen their knowledge of specific productions as well as of critical approaches to them in order to be able to formulate their own critical perspectives and to communicate them effectively and accurately orally and in writing. Antirequisite(s): Prerequisite(s): French 2600E or (both French 2605F/G and 2606F/G) or permission of the Department. Permission of the Department is required for registration in the Z courses. 3 lecture/tutorial hours, 0.5 course.

Other Courses:

Latin 2000 Advanced Latin (N.M. Roberts)

A continuation of Latin grammar and an introduction to the works of Latin authors. Antirequisite(s): The former Latin 020 Prerequisite(s): Latin 1000 or the former Latin 020. 3 lecture hours, 1.0 course.